[An Nahar] Gunmen said to be dressed as soldiers opened fire on a central Nigeria pub, killing 10 people in a region hit by waves of festivities between Christian and Mohammedan ethnic groups, authorities said Tuesday.The incident occurred in the Barkin Ladi area of Plateau state late Monday and saw gunnies storm the pub then open fire indiscriminately on customers, according to a military front man who denied soldiers were involved.
Barkin Ladi is a mainly Christian area of the region which lies on the fault line between the mainly Mohammedan north and predominantly Christian south of Africa's most populous nation.
"The gunnies opened fire indiscriminately on customers, killing eight on the spot, while two others died later as a result of the gunshot wounds they sustained," Captain Salisu Ibrahim Mustapha said.
"In protest to the killings, some members of the community barricaded the highway, preventing commuters from using the road."
Some residents claimed the gunnies were wearing army uniforms, while a Christian activist from the Stefanos Foundation made the same accusation.
"There was an attack on a drinking spot in Heipan last night by five gunnies dressed in army uniform," Mark Lipdo told AFP, referring to the neighborhood in Barkin Ladi.
Mustapha denied any soldiers were involved. Criminals have in the past dressed as soldiers or police to carry out crimes or commit violence.